Pakistan does not need politics of agitation: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan needs only such a long march at this stage which is aimed at progress and prosperity of the country, rooting out of terrorism, elimination of load-shedding, eradication of poverty and corruption and his recent visit to China was a part of this long march. He said that every citizen of the society including children, mothers, sons, daughters and elderly persons will stand as a rock against such sit-ins and long march as hamper the process of national development and prosperity.

He was addressing a press conference, here today. Federal Minister for Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal, Provincial Minister for Law and Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Parliamentary Secretary on Information Rana Muhammad Arshad, Secretary Information, Press Secretary to Chief Minister and Director General Public Relations were also present on the occasion.

Shahbaz Sharif said that a long march only for the development of the country and prosperity of its eighteen crore people is required at present. He said that China also held a long march and has moved far ahead of other nations of the world. He said that enlightened and patriotic people of the country will totally reject such a long march or sit-in as impedes the ongoing process of national prosperity. He said that if a long march is to be arranged at all it should be aimed at regaining the lost status of the country. He said that those who built graveyards of corruption during their tenure are not fit enough to talk about revolution. Who committed a robbery of 70 billion rupees at Punjab Bank and who was in power at that time, he questioned.

Shahbaz Sharif said that present government wrote a new history by completing metro bus project with a sum of 30 billion rupees in a short period of 11 months while it has been termed as Jangla Bus by some elements and some exaggerated the cost of this project to 70 billion rupees. But, he said, such people have not been able to operate Jangla Bus or not even erected a fence in the province where they are in power.

The Chief Minister said that a number of flyovers, bridges and other development projects have been completed in a transparent manner during his six years’ tenure. He said that merit has been made an article of faith and no one has been able to prove corruption of even a single penny against his government.

Contrary to this, he said, those who are immersed in corruption from their head to feet and have been enjoying a luxurious life and pleasant weather abroad are talking of revolution and sit-ins. He said that a long march should be held for ridding the people of poverty, unemployment and corruption.

In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said that no one can think of a civil war. He said that he has given a reflection of the thinking, desire and determination of 18 crore people of the country who will foil any such conspiracy. He further said that the present government has completed Nandipur power project within seven months and launched Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus project while foundation stone of metro bus project will also be laid in Multan on August 14.

Will long march and sit-ins will be held against such projects of public service, Shahbaz Sharif questioned. He said that present government has not raised hollow slogans during its tenure but took practical measures for people’s welfare. He said that billions of rupees of hard earned money of the people have been saved in the awarding of international contracts. He said that those who have been enjoying cool weather abroad are talking of revolution but they should tell what they were doing when people were facing flood devastation and dengue was threatening human lives in the country. He said that it is easy to talk but difficult to act.

In reply to a question, Shahbaz Sharif said that public service is the top priority in a democratic system and it is aimed at solution of people’s problems at their doorstep. He said that Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service will start operating from December 25, 2014 while foundation stone of metro bus project in Multan will be laid on August 14 which will be completed in ten months.

Similarly, he said, darkness of load-shedding will soon be removed from the country. He said that continuous efforts, hard work and honesty are essential for changing the destiny of the nation while those creating doubts and playing with the future of the country are doing no service to the nation. He said that these elements are engaged only in misleading the masses. He said that those committed to the service and welfare of the masses are not deterred by unfavorable conditions and dedicate themselves to their cause.

He said that Pakistan will be made a respectable and dignified country in the comity of nations during the next few years which will be fitting reply to those who call it a terrorist country. Replying to another question, he said that Muslim League-N has no objection to reducing tenure of the government from five years to four years if there is a consensus.

Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan should not accept aid but should try to stand on its own feet. He said that investors are making their own investment in the projects being set up with the cooperation of China and all these projects are under IPP mode.

He said that China is bringing investment of billions of dollars to Pakistan and that too at a time when it is fighting a war against terrorism. He said that Chinese cooperation in the projects of billions of dollars is friendship beyond friendship. He said that Nandipur Power Project has been closed temporarily for shifting it to cheaper fuel and this process will be completed within a few weeks after which the turbine will again start producing electricity.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the projects of Pak-China economic corridor are linked with economic development and energy projects are at the top of the list. He said that his recent visit to China has been very successful and besides negotiations with political leadership, his meetings with the high-ups of financial institutions and banks have been very positive. He said that China has reiterated its full cooperation to Pakistan. He said that China is indeed an equal partner in progress of Pakistan.

He said that Multan-Sukkar section of Karachi-Lahore motorway will be constructed with the cooperation of China. Similarly, he said, Gowadar project is of vital importance in the region and an international airport will also be set up in the area. Shahbaz Sharif said that a meeting of energy working groups of China and Pakistan will be held on August 4 while a meeting of joint commission will also be held in the same month in which final decisions will be made regarding the projects.

He said that energy has been kept at the top of his agenda during his visit to China and it is a matter of satisfaction that Chinese leadership and government have expressed full confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and transparency of the government. Shahbaz Sharif expressed the hope that most of the projects will be completed by 2017-18.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, while speaking on the occasion, said that general elections of 2013 have been termed by international observers as the most transparent and impartial elections in the history of Pakistan. He said that the allegation of the rejection of maximum votes in these general elections by Tehrik-e-Insaf is totally baseless and incorrect.

He said that Tehrik-e-Insaf lodged 58 complaints and appeals in Election Commission out of which 37 have been decided while most of the complaints and appeals of Muslim League-N are pending. He said that Tehrik-e-Insaf tempered with the record of votes in PP-136 Narowal and Muslim League-N won this seat on re-election.

He said that PML-N also won in Lahore and those raising hue and cry got nothing. He said that if Khan Sahib wants to launch a Tsunami March he should hold it for help and assistance to displaced persons of North Waziristan. He said that eight lakh people of Pakistan are sacrificing their present for future of the country. He said that help and assistance to eight lakh IDPs in KPK is a collective responsibility.

He said that Khan Sahib should know that it is not the time for politics and what he is doing is political sabotage. He said that it is not the right moment for Tsunami march but to look after eight lakh displaced persons and raise the morale of Army which is trying to secure the future of the country. He said that there is no room for negative thinking and politics of confrontation.

He said that nation needs long march only for development and progress of the country. He said that political stability is necessary for foreign investment but some elements are creating chaos in the country to discourage foreign investors. He said that Pak-China economic corridor is of vital importance and much progress has been made on this project during one year. He said that a park has also been set up in Gaddani for establishing power projects of 6600 megawatt.

He said that coal-based energy projects will also be set up at Port Qasim and Sahiwal. He said that due to personal efforts of Shahbaz Sharif, progress has also been made towards orange line metro train. He said that government is moving in the right direction and it is time to bring the country out of crisis but some elements are trying to hamper the process of development and prosperity.